SPECTROSCOPY/MICROSCOPY: Nonlinear Raman microscopy eyes clinical application.

Nonlinear Raman microscopy is an emerging technique in biomedical imaging. An inexpensive prototype system, based on coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (CARS), demonstrates value for real-time, minimally invasive chemical analysis of cells and tissues. It overcomes drawbacks of both Raman and CARS, and in doing so demonstrates potential for clinical application-including blood analysis and breast cancer detection.